Thursday, April 20, 2017

1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
The Psalmist is teaching there are two kingdoms. There is the kingdom of all the words and ideas that oppose Gods word. God has spoken all things into existence, speaks salvation, speaks war, victory, life, death, and sustains all things. Anyone who speaks in a way that redefines or opposes Gods word are called wicked. The Psalmist is saying that these Psalms not only give wise counsel through the laws, decrees, curses, covenants etc but they create the universe where the conflict is clear.
To stand in the way is to be in danger of some kind of physical attack. To sit in the seat is to be in bondage to a violent man. These descriptions cross over to the experiences of fighting in a war.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
When we meditate on these Psalms we are being revived in our souls, made wise, given light to our eyes, and being under the constraints of eternal life. So the act of meditating is like fighting hand to hand combat against the wicked men who rule in the kingdom of evil.The tree is a man who rules by Gods law that has been implanted and he creates Gods kingdom on this earth. Israel was surrounded by the rivers that provided them with Gods gifts of creation and they became fruitful and prosperous by war and spreading that kingdom to the whole earth. The vine of Israel invaded the mountains and valleys around the nation that was gifted with Gods law as the foundation of enjoying the sovereign rule over the earth. As God was successful in creating and governing the nations and the creation so Israel was acting as Gods nation to rule the earth.
How did they rule? By meditating the pronouncements of Gods covenants, laws, decrees, statutes and promises and by presenting these arguments before the tribunal of God.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
This is the pronouncement of a curse. The prophets acted as a go between on behalf of the people to adjudicate in the presence of the Most High. The Psalms are teaching that this responsibility of defending Gods causes is absolutely necessary to enjoy Gods blessing. One who ministers the word is a defense lawyer who is more familiar with wining his case before God on behalf of the people than other responsibilities.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
As we speak these laws, decrees, covenants, curses , promises and statutes we rise up in worship of high praise, being exposed to the light of the glory of God, and enjoying the success that goes to the highest powers of governments. There is no limit to the blessing that we can garner from God . Watching is being illuminated by word and Spirit so that we are able to pray according to Gods will in order that we might have all of our needs met.

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